Hand ball.
The players are numbered and scatter promiscuously over the playground or gymnasium. One tosses a ball, at the same time calling the number of some other player. This player must run forward and catch the ball before it has bounded more than once. Any player who is successful in this takes the place of the first tosser. Any player who fails rejoins the others, but three failures put him out of the game. For large numbers it is well to have two balls, tossed by two different players.
The one who is tossing the ball will add much to the interest of the game by calling the names of players who are at a considerable distance from the ball, or for any other reason may have a particularly difficult task in reaching the ball in time; or he may take them unaware, as by calling the same name twice in succession, etc. There is no limit to the number of times a player may be called.
CAPTAIN BALL
Captain Ball is one of the best and most popular games for both children and adults, boys and girls. It is one of the most useful forms of games for the period when pupils are beginning to enjoy organization, as it calls for comparatively simple, though pronounced, team work.
There are many variations in Captain Ball, the differences being in (1) the plan of laying out the ground, and consequently the relative position of players; (2) the points of play that score; and (3) the rules restricting the players. While almost any rules of play or points of scoring may be used on almost any plan of ground, certain methods of play seem to have grown out of, and naturally to belong to, certain diagrams. An umpire, referee, and scorer are desirable in any form of the game, but not absolutely necessary except for match games.
Six distinct forms of Captain Ball are here presented, Captain Ball I, II, III; Emperor Ball (IV); Progressive Captain Ball (V) (a new form of the game originated by Miss Cora B. Clark of New York); also a schoolroom adaptation, Schoolroom Captain Ball (VI). Some forms which offer minor variations have been omitted in favor of these, which form distinct types. The games are grouped in this place to facilitate comparison.
For NEW YORK CAPTAIN BALL (rules of Girls' Branch, Public Schools Athletic League), see Appendix.